The future of the black cab was in doubt last night as the manufacturer of the
traditional London taxi went
into administration.

Insolvency accountants from PwC have been called in at Manganese Bronze, owner
of the London Taxi Company, after a rescue by Geely, the Chinese car
company, failed to materialise. Geely, which also owns Volvo, has been
Manganese’s industrial partner for the past five years. It had been expected
to provide a cash injection to save the company but is now the favourite to
do a deal with administrators to take control of the black cab business.

As much

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1634

Captain John Baily, a veteran of Sir Walter Raleigh’s expeditions, puts four coaches to work by the Maypole in the Strand and sets up London’s first cab rank — but would they venture south of the river?1654

Oliver Cromwell authorises the founding of The Fellowship of Hackney Coachmen, disbanded in 1657 when it starts criticising him and trying to exclude Roundheads.1662

The first hackney carriage licences are introduced for horse-drawn carriages that operated as vehicles for hire.

1694
Licensing is reformed. London’s cabs have been continuously licensed since then, first through the City of London and later through Parliament.

1831
Contrary to folklore, it has never been illegal for a cab driver to travel without a bale of hay. But a new law this year banned them from feeding horses in the street except with corn out of a bag or with hay from the hands. This was not repealed until 1976.

1843
It became compulsory for cabbies to wear a metal badge showing their licence number. It still is.

1897
The first motorised cabs: electric Berseys, dubbed ‘hummingbirds’ for the sound they made.

1903
The first petrol powered cab in London, a French Prunel.

1907
Enter the taximeter. Early meters were mechanical, with a clock wound by the driver.

1947
The Austin FX3 cab, similar to today’s models, is introduced, built by Carbodies.

1958
Carbodies brings out the Austin FX4, the best known taxi in history, which stays in production, with modifications, for 39 years.

1973
Manganese Bronze takes over Carbodies.

1979

Carbodies starts selling the FX4 in a range of colours.

1997
The TX1, the successor to the FX4, is introduced, with a 2.4-litre diesel engine, a wheelchair ramp, and an induction loop for hearing aids.